Sound recording and reproducing machine.



Yu. QULTON, c. ABLBTT a; w. E. LIGBTPOOT.-

SOUND RECORDING AND BEPBODUOING MACHINE.

urgu'rmn mm) JULY 1a 190s. i v

Patented Spt. 27, 1910.

3 BHEETB-BHEBT 2.

l n SOUND RECORDING AND BEPRODUGING MACHINE A k.gl'PLmA'rlolifxnnnknmzla,1.11m. n n l 971,068. x "Patented Sept 27,1910-Y j a sums-amm a.

I 15818 5 2O -f :1 [j

/Vz/vmZ'fH' UNTTED A sTATEs PATENT OFFICE GEORGE oUL'roN, CHARLES. ABLETT, AND WILLIAM EDWARD LIGHTroo'r, or LIvsBrooL, ENGLAND. v Y

SOUND. RECORDING AND RErRODUCING MACHNE.

ToV all 'whom it lmay concern.' Y

Be it known that we, GEORGE OULroN, CHARLES' Aman-r, and lVILLIAM EDWARD Lionrroor, subjects of the King of Great Britain andlreland, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sound Recording and Reproducing Ma- 'l chincs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements-in or connected with machines for recording and reproducing sounds on fiat disks.` `v

The improvements refer to such machines in which the relative surfacv speed between the st vlus and the spiral record line is intended to remain constant so that a symmetrically progressive angnla r speed` of the table 1 in machines in which the record commences at the periphery oi the disk, and a symmet ricallyretrogressive angular speed when the record commences' near 4to the center'fof the tional contact only to slip, especially, as they become worn.

The object of our invention is to overcome the vdefects of machines in which frictionk is relied i'lpon to obtain differential driving. As machines both for recording and reproducing 'only require to work Without stop'-y ping for a period of time equalvt'o.. that which' is necessary for the longest record, we take advantage of this fact and employ a method of driving which would he unsuitable if the machine had to be continuously driven for an indefinite time without stopping. According to our invention thetnumer ofr turns of the table and the speed thereof are governed by the length and sur face speed of a flexible driving band xed at one end to a shaft controlled to turn-at a' constant angular speed and zound .thereon with convolutions of symmetricallyy 1ncreasing sizes', the surface speed and motion of the band when being wound on or off the convmachine. This additional gearing Specification of Letters'lfatent. Patented Sept. 27,1910. Application tiled July 19, 1909, Serial No. 508,519. l

stant speed shaft being transmitted to another shaft which turns the table directly on through gearing.

The: accompanying drawings show our im.

provements embodied 4in three' differently constructed machines-for reproducing purspring motors of the usual kind. yAlternatively an electric motor may be used. The attachment for recording purposes is not shown in the drawings as it does not form part of our invention. v 1 Figures 1' and 2 of the'dravvin represent 1n elevation and plan looking fiim underneath, respectively, the mechanism of a sound reproducing machine embodying our imposes,4 the machines being provided with.

provements. Figs. 3 and 4 represent similarv I views of a modified construction of the im proved machine. Figs; 5 and 6 also repre` sent similar views of another modified con- -struction of the'improved machine.

In the several machines illustrated; the i speed of the table is controlled biy the sur'-` face speed of a fiexible band coi end npon a shaft with convolutions of symmetrically progressing'l sizes` which band d at one vl while being coiled or uncoilcd with the shaft' rotating-'at a constantl speed, travels with a symmetrically varying speed, the variable motion thus obtained bein g transmitted to the table spindle. Each machine illustrated isV also provided with additional' gearing so as to enable the ta le toturn Vat a constant.

angular s eed and reproduce records made inthe or mary way for a constant speed 1s `proY yided with suitable clutch mechanism so that 1t can Abe 'thrownin or out at- -will and the table be driven at aditerential or a conv stant angular speed.

Referring first to Figs: 1 and 2. The

motor is governed to, turn at a constant speed, and normally, in accordance with our invention it drives the table through the fleilrble band. y The bed plate of the mechanism. is represented by 1`rthe spring box of the motor 3, the table spindle by 4`and the arbor of the motor or s ring box by 5. The 4motor is' wound up t rough the gear wheels 6 and 7 and the shaft 8, which is adapted at its end' 9 to receive a crank (not shown)T\A spur wheel 10 is fixed onthe arbor 5, and this gears into anotherv spur wheel llixed on a i .haft 12 mounted .in the standards 1.3 and ry 2, the centrifugal governor by- 1l. 0n tie shaft 1'2 is also fixed a worin `wheel 1Q and this gears with a worm spindle 16 carried iii the standard 14. worm `wheel .17 is fixed on the spindle 1G,

and this gears with'a worin 18 formed on the spindle of the centrifugal governor 3. The .speed of the. inoter is regulated in the. known '.rayby means of a lever 19 carrying a brake -witli another spur wheel E loose on thcv shaft 12. lii `:ed to the shaft 5 is a fu'see or groovedfeone 26,' to thelarge end of which is fixed a ralehet wheel 2T which is engaged by a .spring pressed pawl 52S, pivotedtothe wheel A. barrel Qt), is loosely mounted on Shaft 1i. and is provided with a spurl wheel fixed at one end anda clutch niemher 31 at the other end. 'the Spur wheel has also a similar clutch member :l2 formed on its boss; (Jn the shaft 12 is a sliding clutch member 53 adapted to engage with either members 3l or 3i so that either the. wheel '125 or the barrel .29 can be turned bi' Y, the shaft 12. One end of a flexible band lf is fixed to the barrel. and the rest of the band is-wound aroundthe fusee Q6, the other end of the hand being fixedlto. the latter at 35. Fixed on the shaft 5a a spur wheel 36which is geared with the wheel 3f), and a v spring boX 3T is formed on the wheel 3G and carries a coil spring not shown in the drawing, one end of the spring beine fixed to the rshaft 5'* and the other to the box 37. The

clutch sliding member 33 is actuated by a lever lSarid rod 39.

An indicating device to insure the correct starting speed for records of' different diameters consistsof a worin `l() fixed atthe end of the shaft and this gears into a worm wheel 41 fixed on a vertical spindle 42 carrying a pointer 43. A dial plato not shown in the drawing. is marked as shown, at lfsf, to indicate different sizes of records. "hen the band 34Y is fully wound ou the fusce 26,'

bami nu to the fasce. s"wall hand wiwi 45 fixed on the end of the .shaft 5 is provided for this purpose.

ll'hen the machine is being used with records which require a differential speed of lthe tabltafthe clutch member 33 is engagfd' with the barrel 2) and the motor winds the band 2H on to the barrel 29 from ofi'` the fasce :'ti turning this around at a symmetrically7 progressive speed.

The pawl 28 be' ing engaged with the ratrhet wheel 2T thel wheel Q3 turns this wheel around idly and the worm wheel drives the table spindle t through thtl worm 24. The coil .spring in the spring box/2li' keeps an eren tension on the` band 4lil by braking the `fasce 26. When the clutch ineniber Ill is engaged with the wheel the table spindle -l is driven at aconstant angular spec-:l by the motor Vthrough the shaft 12, wheels .25 and :23 and the worin wheel 2:2 and worin 24. When the machine is not intended alsofor ordinary records, the wheels iland 25 and the clutch 33 are dispensed willi. f The pawl Q8 would then L, piroted to the screw wheel 2Q.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4. ln the machine hei-eb)T illustrated, the inotor is gein-til direethv to the tahle spindleand is controlled to turn at. a differential speed by a goveiiied constant speed shaft, and the surface speed of a. fiexible band spirallyV wound thereon when being drawn ofi' or uncoiled. [n the Figs- Sl andi the bed plate of the mechanism is represented by 1, the.

spring box ofthe motor by Q, the centrifugal Y f governor by 3, lietable spindle by 4, and the arbor of therniitor or Spring box by 5. On

the aibor 5, which is carried in bearings in the standards 50 and 51, is fixed a screw wheel 53 and a cone or fusee 55 having a spiral grooverinniiig around` from one end to the other. Parallel with the arbor 5, aiiother shaft 56 is mounted in bearings in the standards and hasy 2 mtchet wheel 57 fixed thereto. Another sour.' wheel-L58 is looselymounted on the sha f'f .'t and provided with a pawl 59 pivoted thereto alid eiwaging with the teeth of the ratrhet wheel JT. 'lo the ratchet wheel 5T is fixed a drum or barrel fit) opposite. to the fusee To the large end of' thefusee is fixed oneu end of a cord or chain preferably a thin wire cable represented lit-'6.1. the other rnd of the cable being fixed to the barrel (it) opposite to the small end of' the fusee and the rable being long enough to wrap around the fusee for its full length and pars mer to the barrel as well. When the motor is wound up fully, or when the largest sized rrvord the niarhlne can acllt) . wheel 53.

171,068 e I a en aged with the wheel 58, the table spindleV wil turn at a constant angular speed and thus ordinary records can be used. The shaft 56 is controlled so as to` rotate at a ,constant speed bv means of the centrifugal overnor and this is driven by screw gearing fronrthe wheel 58. The governor spindle has a worm 18 cut thereon with which 109 and 110 is fixed another spool or drum k12] to which the other end of thc-.band 119 engages a worm wheel 70 fixed on a spindle 71. The latter has also a worm 72 eut. thereon and this engages with the wheel 58. The ordinary speed regulator actinfr u ,on the governor disk 20 is represented by tie lever f 19 and the handle 21. v Thev motor is Wound up by turning the shaft 56. The handle is preferably fitted to a separate spindle 75 on winch is fixed a gear wheel 76. The latter ygears into another gear wheelv 77 fixed to the shaft 56. l

An indicator provided to enable the cor-Y rect starting speed for a. record of any given diameter to be assured. This consists preferably of a dial plate and a pointer gearedY to the motor so as to make not more than a revolution while the machine is running through the largest record. On. the end of the fuseewe tix a worm 40 and on a vertical spindle 42 a-worm wheel 41, the pointer 43 being fixed to the spindle 42. The dial plate is marked as indicated at 44 to correspond with the different sized records which may be used. and when the machine has been run down and'a record of a certain size is required to be used next, the machine is wound up until the pointer comes o iposte. the mark referring to the particular size of record.

In the machine illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, the motor shaft is geared to the table spindle and controlled by a centrifugal governor to work at a constant speed and a flat' flexible band is employed in which the couvolutions are formed one over the other.

'lhe bed plate of the mechanism is represented by 1` the spring box of the motorby 2, the centrifugal governor by 3, the table spindle by 4. and the arbor of the motor or spring box bv Ou the arbor 5 is fixed a .spur wheel 106 which gears into a pinion 107 fixed on a shaft 108 mounted in bearings in the standards 109 and 110. The shaft 108 also carries a large spur wheel 111 loose thermn and` close to it a ratchet wheel 112 fixed on the shaft. ()n the wheel 111 is pivshown, pressing the pawl into engagement with the teeth. There is also a pinion 114 .fixed on the end of the shaft 108 and into this gears a spur wheel 115 mounted on a 'i stud 116, the boss 11? of the wheel being adapted to receive a crank for winding up the motor. lVhile the motor is being wound up, the spur wheel 111 remains stationary owing to the pawl 113 riding over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 112. the direction of the winding' being opposite to thatdmlicatel` by the arrows.

Upon the shaft4v 108 is fixed a spool or drum 118 to which `one end of lthe flexible band 119 is fixed and upon which it is woundas the motor turns the table. Gn another shaft 120 carried bythe standards is fixed and upon which it is wound before a record is commenced. Inside the spool 121 is a coil tension spring 122 against the resistance of which the band is uncoiled from the spool and by which the band is rewound on the spool when the motor is being woundup and the possibilit' of the band beeomin,l

slack while being awn olf is obviate Upon a shaft 123, also carried by the standards'109 and 110, is fixed a ratchet wheel 124 and loose upon the shaft123 is mounted a driving pulley wheel 1.25 pivoted to which is a spring pressed pawl 126. The pulley is in line 'with the spools 11S and 1.21 and the band 119 passes partly round the pulley from one spool tothe other. Upon the shaft 123 is also fixed a worm wheel -127 which geais with a worm 128 fixed on the table spindle 4. Thus the band 119 can be wound back on to the spool 121 from the spool 11.8 without turning theshaft 123 or the table spindle 4 as the pawl 126 will ride over the teeth of the vratchet wheel 124. f As the spring' 122 requires Vonly about one fourth the number of' turns to wind it up that spool 121 makes. a reducing gearing of known con struction is interposed between the spindle of the spring 122 and the siool 121. This ear is indicated by the wivels 12?, 130., 131 and 132. I

The centrifugal governor 3 is driven from 'the motor through the spur wheel 111 which oted a pawl 113 and this engages with the marked. as indicated at 14, each mark repreratchet teeth of the wheel 112 a spring, not i scntmg a record of a certain dnnnctcr. the

pointer 43 being gea-red in this case to the wheel 115 by means of a worin 40 fixed on the boss'theieof which gears into a worm wheely 41 fixed on the spindle` 42 vof the pointer. The pointer in the position Yindi rated reiliresents that the spool 121 is wound up for the largestsize record that the machine will play. lf'the'record' to be used is a smaller one, the boss 117 will be turned around by the handle so as to wind ofi` the spool 11S a sufiicient length of the band for and to turn the pointer around until itiiidirates' the mark corresponding to the size of the rrecord tol be used; Y,

For the purpose of enabling the` table in this machine to turn at a constant speed so that records made in the ordinary way can be used, we arrange that the table spindle 4 can be directly cou led up to the motor Without the band 119 eff) merely running idly durinfr the time. YThis adjustment can bc obtainedgby fixing aspur wheel 144 on the shaft 123 and loosely mounting another spur wheel 145 on the shaft 108 gearing with the wheel 114. The wheel 145 is provided with a clutch jaw 146 and a sliding clutch jaw 147 is fixed so as to turn with and on the shaft 10@ A shipping lever 148 is provided to close these jaws togetlier or to separate them as required and a handle indicated by 149 may he mounted in any suitableposition n, to actuate the lever 148.

The clutch is preferably provided with inclined toothed vJaws so that it would force itself eut of engagement in tlieevent of the machine heilig run beyond a certain limit when the speed of the band would more than equal the surface speed of the pulley 1'25 owing tothe conrolutions of the band on the spool 118 increasing in size,v

The retardmg or stopping device inthe f form of' a brake acting on` the friction disk Q0 of the governor in the known way is not .shown in the drawing.

That we claim as our invention andde-A sire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is f l'. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing machines comprising in combination, a record operating spindle, a motor, a constant speed shaft member, a revolnble body haring convolutions of symmetrically increasing size for drivingr said spindle-and a flexible element trained about said body aml shaft member whereby asymmetrieally variable speed of a limited immher of revolutions is impaited` to said spindle.

.2. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing machines comprising' in combination. a record carrying spindle, a motor, awmstant speed shaft driven from said motor, a member having a gradually.

ectively acting, the latter motor, a constant speed shaft driven 'from said motoig'a flexible element adapted to be wound and unwound on' said shaft, `and mechanisms operated by said element for imparting a limited number of revolutions t0. said spindle at a constantly var-ying speed.

f 4. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing machines comprising in combination', a record carrying spindle, a motor, a constant speed shaft driven .from said motor, a flexible element adapted to be wound and unwound on said shaft, mech` anisni's operated by said element for imparting a limited number of revolutions to said v spindle at a. constantly Ivarying speed, and means for connecting said spin le with said Vmotor for operating the former at a constant speed. y 5. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing machines comprising incombination, a. record carrying spindle, a motor, a constant speed shaft driven from ,said vmotor, a member having a gradually .increasing eriplieral surface geared to said spindle, a exible element trained about said I member and constant speed shaft f or iniparting a limited number of revolutions to said spindle at a constantly vai-yin(r speed,

said motor for driving the former at a constant speed.

6. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing machines comprising said eleinentrbeing wound about said shaft- I for operating and controlling the speed of rsaid spindle 'through said mechanism.

7. Driving Lmechanism for sound recording andV reproducing machines comprising in combination, a record carrying s iindle, a motor geared to said spindle, a sha `t driven from said motor, a governor for rendering the speed of said shaft constant, mechanism including a flexible element for operating said spindle, said element being,r wound about said shaft for operating 'the spindle through said mechanism, and means for conneetinu' said spindle for direct operation from said motor and rendering said mechanism and element inoperatirt'oi' rendering said mechanism and element operative and throwing said spindle out of direct driving connection with said mo'tor.

10ol A and means for connecting said spindle with Y 971,068 i v f 1 v 5 v 8. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing vmachines comprising in combination, a record carrying spindle, a

motor, a shaft driven by said motor, a governor for rendering the speed of said shaft constant, and mechanism enacting with and including a flexible element connected with said shaft foi-imparting a limited number of revolutions to said spindle at a constantly and symmetrically varying speed.

flrDriving mechanism for sound record'- ing and reproducing machines comprising in combination. a record carrying spindle,

a motor, and two rotatingr members and iiv i'iexible element operatively connecting the saine for driving said spindle, one member being driven from said motor and governed to rotate atk a constant speed, the other of said meiiiberslxing constructed and arranged to receive said element about its periphery and impart a limited number of revolutionsv to said spindle at a varying speed dni-iup," the travel of said elenieiataboiit said member.

' 10. Driving mechanini for sound record-- ing and reproducing machines comprising ata constantly var viiigspced. and nieaiu l`oi' indicatingr the starting speed for records yot dill'ercnt sizes.

11. Driving mechanism for sound recording and reproducing inachines comprising in combination, a record carryingr spindle, a motor, a constant speed shaft `operated by said motor. a rotating member having a gradually and symmetrically reduced pcriphery and connected to drive said spindle, a cord or cable arranged to be woiind and' part a limited number of revolutions to said spindle at a constantly varying spced,rand

means` operated by said member for indicat` ing tlic starting Speed for recordsI of differcnt sizes. y y

12. Driving` mechanism foi' noiiiid record ing and i'epi'mliiciiig machines coiiiprisiiucr in combination. a record carrying spindle, a motor. a constant speed shaft operated by said motor. a rotating member ,havinga `gradually and symmetrically reduced pe-y riphery and connected to drive said spindle.

a cord or cable arranged to be wound and iiinvoiiiid on Said iiicniber and shaft to iinpai't a limited number of revolutions to said (so spindle at a constantlyvarying speed. means n for winding said cord or cable on said inem bei' priortoreprmliicing a record. and inc-anal operated b v said member for indicating the starting .-pecd for records of different .Gives In testimony whereof we have signed our niiiiiesvin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

amaai; olii/for. y CHARLES ABLETT. Y f Wllililll EDWARD LlGH'lFOOT.

.Yitncrees: f v

'I`iio.\i.\s Dir'riox Evans, Rimini' Jamas Uiiounaii'r. 

